Lawrence T. Nilges, 90, known to his friends as either "Larry or Homer", peacefully passed on to his heavenly life on Sunday, November 14, 2021. Larry was born June 22, 1931 in Aurora Township, IL to Lawrence C. and Anna A. (Poss) Nilges and would live his entire life in the same home that his father built on his Grandpa Poss's farm.
Larry was a life-long devout Catholic and longtime volunteer at St Therese Church. He graduated from Marmion Military Academy and proudly served in the United States Air Force during the Korean War. Larry was employed for 38+ years at All-Steel Manufacturing and cherished his 33 years of retirement. While hunting and fishing were certainly his passions, he was a master gardener, winemaker, guitarist, singer and storyteller. Many of the best times of his life were spent on his property in Missouri sharing stories with the Bax & Lange families along with 72 deer seasons as a legend at the World Famous Lesica Hunting Camp in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
Larry was a proud lifetime member of both the NRA and the Maple Park American Legion Post 312. He was a loyal Cubs and diehard Bears fan. Additionally, he had a group of lifelong friends that started out playing little league baseball, bowled throughout their adult years and enjoyed playing cards together as seniors. It was truly comedy hour when the gang of Homer, Pee Wee, Goose, Chuck, Norb, Satch and Ozzie got together!
Survivors include a brother Ronald (late Shirley), godson Robert (Holly) Watermann, his special cousin/longtime caregiver Jody (Bruce) Watermann, nephew Robert Nilges, nieces Theresa Twaites and Virginia "Ginny" (Jerry) Murphy, goddaughters Mary Pat Valent and Laura Jungels along with his great godchildren Abigail and Jackson Watermann.
He was preceded in death by his parents Lawrence and Anna; brothers, Robert (Donna) and Leon; nephew, Steven Nilges; niece, Karen (Nilges) Braden; best friend, Erwin "Satch" Jungels along with many dear aunts, uncles and cousins.
Visitation will be Thursday, November 18, 2021 from 4:00 pm to 7:00 PM with a Liturgical Wake Service at 5:00 PM at THE DALEIDEN MORTUARY, 220 Lake Street, Aurora. (630) 631-5500.
Funeral services will be held Friday, November 19, 2021 from THE DALEIDEN MORTUARY at 9:30 AM to Annunciation Catholic Church, 1820 Church Rd, Aurora at 10:00 AM; Fr. Piasecki will officiate with interment at Marywood Cemetery. If a charitable donation is desired, please consider Marmion Academy, 1000 Butterfield Rd, Aurora, 60502 or St. Lawrence Catholic Church, 246 Main St., St. Elizabeth, MO 65075.